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Wow, the press has really gotten to us... Yes, we would beat our reserves... Jebus....

Meesen is 21 and he's been injured. Give the bloke a break, tall blokes take longer. Which is why I have been rethinking my opinion about Garland. I think it was 'Checker' Hughes who said for every inch over 6 feet you have to wait a year... Getting back to the thread - Great plan for rejuvenating our rucks. It is also achievable in the sense that we are certainly in a position to get Warnock and Naitanui. Although I heard that Naitanui was used more as a utility in the Goodes sense, or even a 'Richo on the wing' dominate at both ends sense. If that makes sense...

That's two a game... Just don't rest your case on that.

In and under mids are always required. Got to get first hands on the footy. Outside mids are everywhere, not hard to find them.

I think a coach has to stick to his gameplan rather than change it to suit his players. Heads up though. First win in round 7 against Freo. Lean patch after that though. But plenty of tearful goodbyes (Neitz, Yze, White, Holland) and joyful welcomes (Maric, Grimes, Cheney, McNamara, Martin, Valenti, Meesen) to come.

Moloney is still struggling with injury. He wasn't dropped after Rd.1, they rested him. Some have short memories to 2005, but it's 2008 and maybe he won't have the same impact. All things being equal, I give Moloney plenty of time because of his drive, his contested footy, and his love of the club.

I knew it was OX's fault. Even when it was mis-management and indifference going back generations, I knew it was OX.

I think your name is very apt, and i'm guessing Gardner is the lamb... PG hasn't been great but he has done some good things, put us on track as it were... But with every administration in every walk of life, he doesn't want the criticism focussed on him. His time is almost up and he will move on, and we will move on to the next saviour. But unless Dick Pratt has a brother who is a Melbourne supporter, it doesn't matter who the Prez is. We are going to need more sponsorship, less turnover (sorry DB is going nowhere), and improved performances (or a very promising display from a group of youngsters).

I still believe we need to say "come back to the club now, or there will not be a club." There is only one saving grace here - The recent turnover (thanks to the impossibly difficult to work with Steve Haris) of around 90% is one large reason for the loss we will post. However, the awful deal that we will get with the MCC and the AFL is going to be a massive problem going forward. We need corporate sponsorship, that's why Gardner went for McNamee. We need to mine new ground (sponsors that sre not in AFL) and any bloke in football wouldn't know where to start. PS. Alot of us are frustrated because of the 'false bravado and posturing' as Garry Lyon put it. I want the club to tell us we are in the sh!t and give us some ideas of how we can help - Other than buying a membership, although if they said this, membership would spike.

Maybe we need to almost die to save the club. We have 10 000 members from last year that have not signed up, we still have not recovered from the years of mediocrity from 65 - 87, and there remain fractures from the merger business 12 years ago. Hawthorn came together and we just became indifferent to the problems or ignored them. I think we need a ratcheting up of pressure to make those that are ambivalent to realise that we need them to come back to the club. We won't die, but we won't thrive until we get everyone back. So if it gives some a kick up the arse, keep writing them Caro. PS. The club should email this article to every 2007 member that didn't re-sign.

As a fatalist, I moved on pretty quick but really believed at one point he was coming. Not worried, we need a full back more than a midfielder.

We have had such an awful season that 'above average' isn't saying a whole lot. With that said, you could find issues with every player and you could praise an aspect too... I must say though; McLean gets over 40% of his possessions in contested situations...very encouraging. And Jones is 35%. To put it in context - Macca is currently at 31%, Bruce 27%, Green 18%. With those figures it isn't difficult to see why I am not despondent about the future (of our midfield at least).

You guys let Robbo off the hook so easily. The game has not passed him by, he is just playing selfish sh!t football. He's kicked 8 goals in 4 games and alot of them have been rubbish. He has had 4 'one percenters' and 6 tackles in 4 games - that is pathetic. His head is all over the place at the minute, and his venturing down into the backline to find a kick hurts more than it helps. He should be doing more and playing better. Full stop.

Just adding a bit of fairness to Daniher. Value in Rivers, Bate, and Carroll. Possibly Dunn, Newton, and Frawley. That is 6. It's difficult to judge wether that is a good return. IMO it has been player development over the years, rather than specific picks. We just don't seem to be able to turn promise into reality. But with 2 development coaches, maybe that will change.

Although, looking at Mitch Morton at Richmond, Morton (and the club) should be aiming for a KP. Hopefully, CHF. That's putting a lot on the kid but it is exciting. And despite the doomsayers there are some things at the Demons to be excited about. Cue the bitter oneliners...

I have been disappointed with Brock but don't entertain thoughts of trading him. Once he gets his head right, he will be a star. Maybe that's if he gets his head right...

Retirements - White (indications this will be his last), Neitz (the drumbeat is getting louder), Holland (already conceded by Ben, I believe), and Yze (this may be a push rather than his decision) Delistings - Chris Johnson, Isaac Weetra, Matthew Warnock, Colin Garland Trade - Green (Out Of Contract end of year, Top 20 pick or not worth it), Miller (OOC 2009, Top 30 pick or not worth it), Bruce (OOC 2010, Top 20 or not worth it), Jamar (OOC 2009 Top 40 pick or not worth it) - Some may think I am expecting too much, maybe, but "Pick 27 for Brad Green" will not be a good day for the club in the press or with many supporters. Elevations - Wonaeamirri and Valenti (Seen enough from both to give them two years on the list to develop, Valenti is now at the stage that he will get more kicks in AFL than in the VFL because he is now receiving the best negating player from the other team) This means that come National Draft day we will have 5 picks, or if we have a good trade week 9 picks. Keeping in mind the low pick in the Pre Season Draft. 4 or fewer wins will leave us with: Picks 1, 17, 18, 34, 50. OR Best Case Scenario: 1, 13, 17, 18, 20, 29, 34, 38, 50. Plus the 1st pick in PSD which always seems valuable but hasn't been a haven for grabbing OOC stars (Stevens is an exception). A few more could have been shown the door, but you want to stretch these out over a few years. Remember, you have to cut at least 3 every year.

That means Sylvia and Miller for Warnock and Newton. Apparently Newton (who I love) needs a kick up the arse so he won't get a freebie. Warnock is ungainly but a few said he was alright last week. May aswell see if he's any good. However, Sylvia has to stay. I'm not going to justify this with his 22 touches last week - most were weak off HBF and also in junk time. Colin has to stay and play a 100 minutes in the middle to see if he can do the thing we picked him to do. Otherwise, time to move him on. Changes I would make this week: OUT: Miller, Johnson, Robertson IN: Bate (played Sandy 2nds though), Cheney (chance to see the future), Maric (justified this himself on Sunday)

Brad Miller will play 100 games for Melbourne. He will be a 100 game player. Miller will be a life member of the Melbourne Demons. I going to go and brush my teeth for the next 15 minutes.

Our percentage is fifty and he thinks we can win two thirds of the remaining games? It isn't a huge issue but it goes to the heart of our leadership problem: thinking about the result instead of the process that is required to get there. Bruce was ok on saturday but he just needs to talk about the next week, not september. Forward pressure, decision making, handball skills, kicking skills, and figuring out the teams' game plan - he, and the rest, need to work on these issues before talking about September. And don't give me the 'he's just spruiking the game' rubbish. The team fixing the afore mentioned problems would put more bums on seats than any statement from Bruce.

It's always darkest before it's completely black. Chairman Mao.

Amen. And some dignified retirements.

The Senior Player Deadline Round 6 is coming up and the average age of the side on saturday was 24.5 years. Valenti should play (and someone should retire) and Frawley, Buckley, Bate, Maric, Petterd, Moloney, Cheney, Meesen, Newton, McNamara, Martin, and Bode could not be worse than these blokes. We are all rambling a bit after the loss but the older 'senior' players need to be moved out for players who might help us get a flag: Carroll (has been our best but is not going to be around when we are decent), Wheatley (half good, but again longevity and 'as a defender, he's one hell of a wingman', C.Johnson (no reason required), Miller (OOC in '09 - amazing), Neitz (great career; its over), Robertson (OOC in 2009 - has been awful), Whelan (injury ravaged, longevity), and White (last year anyway). That's 8 with Jamar to follow when P.Johnson is fit. Only Bruce, Green and Macca get a pass because one is a leader and the other two should be preserved for trade week, if they are worth anything. Bring in Frawley, Cheney, McNamara, Meesen, Petterd, Bate, Newton, Maric, and Valenti and our average age falls by three years.

Some of you blokes are letting the players off too easy. It was the same under Daniher; blame the coach when the players are the ones with no leadership skills, poor decision making abilities, and an inability to perform the most simple tasks under any pressure. They handball to blokes standing still (the entire backline), they handball to blokes about to get tackled (Miller, Bruce, Jones), the handball to blokes' feet (McLean, Green, Wheatley). They kick indiscriminately (Green, Robbo, C.Johnson), they kick to the wrong side of their teammates(entire team), and they kick poorly full stop (C.Johnson, Jones, Robbo).

Plans for Next Season Deletions - Garland, C.Johnson, Warnock Retirements - Yze, Neitz, White, Holland Trade - Bruce (top 15 pick), Green (top 20 pick), Miller (top 35) Upgraded - Wonaeamirri, Valenti 4/7 Picks in the Nat Draft, 1 in the PSD. Current Projections: Picks 3, 19, 36, 52 or w/trades Picks 3, 12, 19, 23, 29, 36, 52 approx. FOUNDATION TEAM - Members IMO good enough to be in a grand final tilt. FB Frawley Bell HB Petterd Rivers C Dunn McLean Moloney HF Davey Morton Wonaeamirri FF Sylvia Bate Newton R Johnson, Jones, Batram I Grimes, Maric I see a good solid spine, and plenty of talent. With a full back required. Maybe Frawley, McNamara, Martin... I am aware of the leap of faith with Frawley (although in the pocket), Dunn, Sylvia, Newton (but again in the pocket), and Grimes and Maric but that's just opinion. Question marks on Buckley, Bode, Cheney, Meesen, Martin, and McNamara.